Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-07-15

The Soldiers Reprieve.
Kind reader, has it ever been your for
h. 10 witness a military execution? To
the condemned criminal shot to death
musketry while kneeling upon his own
|Mn, or swing from a temporary gibbet
10 eternity? 1t has been mine. and I
nuot recall those horrible scenes even
bw without a shudder.
In the autumn of 1868 an incident oc-
rred in the regiment to which I belonged
he One Hundred and Twenty-second
ew York Nolunteers), which so clearly
u,rates the magnanimity of our noble
incoln that l think it worthy of record.
We were at the time speak Of guarding
e Orange and Alexandria Railroad from
l. periodical raids of the ubiquitous
osby, and were camped near Catlett's
tation.
. A private of Company B, by the name
paniel Bowley, had some time previous
' billed for furlough, that he might visit
i family in the North. Letters from h 8
. ife were occasionally received, in which
,e complained bitterly of the inattent on
NJ neglect of those that had promised to
IRE for the family of the absent soldier.
As he read Of the suffering of that faith
il partner and his little brood of children
became detected and moody, and, when
learned that his application had been
lfused, in fit of desperation he deserted
I nj went to the dear ones at home. His
eserton was quickly followed by an ar
IS, and trial by court martial.
The sentence of the court was, "That on
celt,in day not far distant, between the
ours of nine a. III. and two p. NJ, he be
hit to death by musketry."
The proceedings and sentence of the
ouyt were approved by the commanding
General. and the Provost Marshal ordered
0exccute the sentence.
Kindred and Twenty second indignation
leytlngs we're held and the court severely
ensured for passing what all considered
tlmiust sentence upon worthy soldier;
ntaere seemed no possible way of avert
b, The impending catastrophe. All but
" man became reconciled to the ap-
sautly inevitable.
Lieutenant Colonel A. w. Dwight, COM
EiinS the regiment, determined, if it
tvithin the power Of man, to prevent
Execution. Daniel Bowley should not
The death of felon.
nc DcSttu i'y CllCllttlHSi pelltlOll, utaWu
himself, among the officers of his COM
Md, and, after securing the signature of
ch and every one, presented it to the
lsade, division, and corps commanders,
Nj with their Endorsement upon the paper
lned for army headquarters.
II required considerable persuasion to
dace General Meade to sign the petition,
he had decided to make an example of a
w, hoping thereby to ef1'cctually check
seltion III the future. The General held
for some time, but the eloquence of the
olonel at last prevailed, and he returned
ih the name of George G. Meade affixed
the document.
Lieutenant Frank Wooster, of Company.
J., was detailed to carry the petition to
assllnSlon, without delay, and present it
Nr, Lincoln in person.
Eut one day interviewed between that of
oostcrs departure and the one appointed
the execution. The whole division,
eanwhile, had become interested in the
Use, and when the drums in the various
Mps beat the call to assemble the troops
witness the execution there We're malIy
and anxious faces outside the One Hun
ed and Twenty second.
At > a. m. the blue lines began to appear,
oymg slowly and sadly out on the plain,
~ only the monotonous tapping of the
Uil to indicate that they were moving in
PARTIAL array.
some time was occupied in massing the
vision SO that every man could witness
regal murder of IL comrade, and when
l'Sl TIE prisoner and his guards APP
a4ed' low murmur of sympathy arose
wi wi mat LIVING mass OF humanity.
Ae Twelve men selected as executioners
moved to the position assigned them,
u DANIEL Bowley took his place by the
N OF the new-made grave and rough
At coffin that was expected to encase lis
sless remains.
Like a statue of marble he stood. pale
llotloniess, before the Provost Mar
d. while lie uufolded and read the war
~ mat condemned him to die by vio-
determination to meet his fate like
'Ief was plainly visible in every feature
AZ listened attentively to the reading.
q. us conclusion he raised his eyes, and
y. one farewell look at the assembled
0"su,ias and lis countrys flag. that
,i'eo 10 wave i'll mockery OF his anguish
wv nm, he turned toward the twelve
"nn loaded rifles, who stood ready to
.H'e the memorable decree of the mill
Ttrbunal.
iloaeed with the execution" was the
Is'' and the Provost Marshal's assistant
,o SA,ea with the white cap and the red
mat was to cover his heart, as q tar
iof The rifles of his unwilling muir
pa 1.4enly horseman appeared, tlashing
~. ;,> NE plain from the direction OF the
'%n. On, on he came, apparently in
IN nm ms speed as he neared us.
~ re, e lnstinctiyely turned in that direc-
for a moment every tongue was
yo "nd every form mo,ionless; then the
,ail through the ranks like fire: "Its
rum IN loan. it's Captain Roam!" aud
moment more our gallant Adjutant
(nvtai dashed up to General Shaler, and
J ps at the top of his voice: General,
rs eslaent telegraphs stay Of proceed
/, "nu' further orders"
sns; would be useless for me to attempt
h, snh OF the enthusiastic outburst
nds toIlowed this announcement. Brass
lhs ana drum corps added their music
tv,r generous cheering Of the troops as
c @snued their way toward their respec.